Oregon Legislature Updates Equal Pay Act; Additional Changes to Administrative Rules Appear Likely By Benjamin P. O’Glasser Bullard Law, NW Law Firm Oregon has passed a new bill, Senate Bill 123, making several changes to the Oregon Equal Pay Act (OEPA) that will aid employers’—and particularly employers with unionized workforces—compliance […]

By Josh Lehner, Oregon Office of Economic Analysis Many of the business discussions surrounding beer tend to focus on the number of breweries opening or closing. We use that as a barometer for the health of the sector, including our previous look at industry dynamism. Counting breweries is pretty easy, […]

Portland Business Alliance, This year, I had the honor and opportunity to serve as chair of the Portland Business Alliance, the greater Portland region’s largest and most diverse chamber of commerce. Over the last 11 months, we examined key issues, including what’s top of mind for those who champion for […]

Wall Street Journal Editorial, California gave birth to the so-called gig economy with startups like Uber, Lyft and Postmates that are used by millions. But now Golden State Democrats are trying to smother their babies, and the progressives running for President want to help. Gig companies rely on flexible workforces […]

By Josh Lehner, Oregon Office of Economic Analysis The current expansion is now the longest on record, celebrating its tenth birthday over the summer. The economic data flow remains solid overall and classic recession catalysts like an overheating economy are not rearing their heads. The good news is that expansion […]

By Oregon Employment Department, While on vacation, my father (a baby boomer) was lamenting about how millennials are so much more “flaky” as employees, constantly jumping from one job to another. This was the classic “millennials are job hoppers” myth that has become widespread. But is it true? Are millennials […]

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take action that protects consumers from cellphone fraud and helps victims to understand their recourse options. “Consumer protection is a core responsibility of the FCC,” Wyden wrote the FCC in a letter signed by […]

By Cascade Policy Institute How much would you be willing to pay in taxes for your local business? Thirty-three percent of total sales from Oregon distilleries currently goes to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. This means, on average, that the state makes a greater profit from tasting room sales than […]

By National Federation of Independent Business Optimism among small business owners bounced back in July as expectations for business conditions, real sales, and expansion made solid gains. The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 1.4 points to 104.7, with seven of 10 components advancing, two falling, and one remaining unchanged. […]

(Oregon’s two Fortune 500 companies are Nike, ranked 90th in revenues, and Lithia Motors at 265th). By Oregon Employment Department, Oregon is home to just two Fortune 500 firms, but that doesn’t mean headquarters aren’t an important part of our economy. This sector, called ‘management of companies’, provides nearly 50,000 […]